How do I Lose Weight With Prepackaged Foods At the Grocery Store?

People enjoy the benefit of using prepackaged foods for weight loss. One of the main benefits is portion control which is essential in any successful weight loss plan. Prepackaged food takes the guess work out of counting calories. Most products are microwavable and offer a quick and convenient way of substituting meals. These products can be high in sodium and additives. Be careful to do your homework and choose a product that is healthy, low in calories, and low in sodium.

Instructions

• 1

  Mulitply your goal weight by 10. This is your calorie intake.

  Decide how much weight you want to lose. Multiply your goal weight by ten. This will be your daily calorie intake goal. If you want to weigh 140 pounds, take 140 and multiply it by 10, the daily calorie goal is then 1,400 calories. Controlling what and how much you eat is the best start in your goal of weight loss. Select prepackaged foods that meet your daily caloric guideline. Prepackaged snacks are sometimes high in sugar, make sure to read all ingredients before you make a choice.

• 2

  Choose foods that taste good.

  Experiment with portion and tastes of the different prepackaged foods in your grocery store. Understanding how much you should eat at one sitting is as important as counting calories. Grocery stores carry a large selection of prepackaged diet foods. Finding a product that tastes good, has a variety of choices, and satisfies you at meal time will help you succeed in long term weight loss.

• 3

  Shop once a week for food

  Purchase a week's worth of prepackaged food. Shopping a week at a time will help you stay within your budget and keep you from impulse purchases. Impulse purchases are items that you may see on the side of the register that are meant to catch your eye. Avoiding these items all together will decrease cravings you will have for alternate foods.

• 4

  Add fruits and vegetables to your meals

  Make breakfast your largest meal. Most prepackaged brands do not offer breakfast. Use fresh fruits, yogurts, oatmeal, and whole grain products to start your day. A smaller meal should follow for lunch, and then your smallest meal for dinner. Incorporate your prepackaged meals in your afternoon and evening schedule. If you are on a 1,600-calorie diet, use 600 for breakfast, 550 for lunch, and 450 for dinner. Going to bed after eating a light dinner will help you lose weight faster.

• 5

  Drink half your body weight in ounces of water daily.

  Drink plenty of water. Water aids in digestion, flushes out toxins, encourages proper kidney function, and body fats are released through the urine. According to Public Broadcasting System, take your weight and divide it in half and that is how many ounces of water you should drink. A 100 pound person should drink 50 ounces of water daily. Start by drinking a full eight ounce glass of water with each meal. The water will help you feel full and satisfied with each meal.

• 6

  Make small changes over time

  Start slow and change eating habits over time. Making too many changes all at once usually leads to cheating or giving up all together. While a heart attack is rare, the risk is there because of the sudden change in activity. Each week take a habit and change it. Replace sweet drinks with water, change from white bread to whole wheat bread, or walk up the stairs instead of taking the elevator. Taking your time and making small changes over time will help you develop new healthy habits.

• 7

  Walk three times per week.

  Exercise three or more days per week. Exercise will help increase your metabolism which will result in a higher energy level, a stress free lifestyle and weight loss. Metabolism is the process of your body converting food to the fuel it needs to function daily. Walking is an easy and effective form of exercise. Walking 2,500 steps or one mile will burn an average of 100 calories. Choosing a healthy prepackaged food line and combining it with fresh foods and exercise will give you the result you desire.